The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-06


who believes in the divine mission of
Jesus Christ ever can commit this sin.
Therefore let no mans heart fail him
because Of it from henceforth and for
ever"
In past times many were seriously
concerned in regard to this blasphemy,
and fell into the delusion that they had
committed the objectionable sin. But
now such cases are rarely heard of, and
the shadow of this fear has passed away
from the human mind. Christianity in
its purity is becoming better understood
among the people, and one of its first
principles is the pardon of all sins by
the All Gracious Father on sincere re-
pentance. There is no objectionable
sin known to Christianity.
The passage in Matthew of which
the announcement of the blasphemy
forms part, is one of those in which
our Lord is brought before us in con-
nection with his powerful enemies, the
Pharisees. They had become alarmed
at his works and miracles of mercy and
sought to destroy his influence with the
people. Hence they ascribed his divine
power to an evil source. They could
not deny the fact of the miracles, but
they sought an evil explanation. Jesus
met them by saying "If 1 by Belize
bub cast out devils, by whom do your
children cast them out ?" There was
among the Jews set of men called
exorcists who pretended to cast out
evil spirits and they were in favor with
the Pharisees who believed in their
powers. To these exorcists, either
among the Pbarisees or otherwise, the
Saviour alluded as "their children" or
followers. The argument of our Lord
was based upon their own admissions
and principles, and was as follows: eff
they, the Pharisees, commended that the
fact of mans casting out devils was
an evidence that he was in league with
Satan, then according to their own
showing their disciples and themselves
were also all in league with Satan.
They must, therefore, give up their opin-
ion that Christ cast out devils by Beel-
zebub, or admit that they also were of
the devil. VERSES 25-27.)
There was no middle ground be-
tween the way Of God and the adver-
sary, Christ assures the Pharisees. If
a man was not for Christ and his Cos
pei he was against him, verses 2S30).
Our Lords declaration of the blasphemy
follows, (verses 31-32.). The "world''
here is allowed on all sides, to mean
literally age, period, dispensation. 1t
does not involve the idea of eternity.
but of a succession of time. DR.. Clarke
voices the uniform testimony of schol-
ars when he says in words which Uni
versalists have often quoted: Though
I follow the common translation, yet l
am fully satisfied the meaning Of the
words is, neither in this dispensation
nor in that which is to come" The
two dispensations here noted are the
Jewish and the Christian. The sin
against the Holy Ghost might not be
pardoned in either of these ages of the
world, but in future oe0ns or dispense
lions, when the exceeding riches of
Gods grace would be displayed through
Jesus Christ, this and all other sins
would obtain forgiveness.
When Jesus was asked for proof of
the divinity of his mission he appealed,
the reader will observe, to his works.
Now a man might say a word against
him ignorantly and when he should
come to see his miracles he you'd be
convinced and his unbelief would be
taken away. But when man stood
by and saw the miracles and knew that
they were wrought out, and yet obsti-
nately persisted in ascribing them to an
evil agency, he had rejected the last
testimony, and there was no amount of
evidence that would reach his case or
take away his unbelief. Hence Mark
adds, "Shall be in danger of eternal
damnation." In the old English Bible
it reads. everlasting trespass." The
propriety of thellast version is appar-
emit.